Sambajon Defeats Corr, Claims $6,000 Prize

Sambajon Defeats Corr, Claims $6,000 Prize by Robert AnthonySantos Sambajon Jr. defeated WPBA number-two ranked Karen Corr in a 9-ball exhibition challenge and took home a grand prize of $6,000. The race-to-15 match was a winner-takes-all event held at PJ’s Billiards in Linden, NJ, on Saturday, May 8.With over 100 spectators in attendance, Corr made an impressive start in the match. After Sambajon failed to sink a ball on his opening break, the “Irish Invader” proceeded to run the entire rack with confidence. Corr made the 4 ball on the following break and left the 9 sitting in the corner for an easy 2-9 combination to end the rack early. Up two games at the beginning, Corr was showing the entire crowd why she is ranked second on the WPBA Tour.
Sambajon, however, got a chance to redeem himself when Corr failed to pocket a ball on her next break. Though he overshot ideal position several times, the Filipino muddled his way through the rack to a tough cut on the 9, which he rolled smoothly into the heart of the pocket for his first win of the night. He took the next three racks, bringing the score to 4-2 in his favor.Though he made two balls on his next break, Sambajon sent the cue ball sailing off the table, the first of a number of scratches on the break that evening. But Corr simply could not capitalize on Sambajon’s mistakes. Though Corr won the rack with ball in hand, Sambajon stole the next three games by leaving his opponent long, difficult shots or snookering her completely. It was to become a pattern for the remainder of the match. Sambajon, ranked number one on the Joss Tour, played excellent position and made few mistakes. Corr showed the audience some great shot-making but not enough to pull even with the diminutive Sambajon. In the end, Sambajon triumphed 15-8.Both Sambajon and Corr, who are good friends, were in high spirits at the end of the match and signed autographs and posed for pictures with fans. Sambajon, who accepted the $6,000 check from co-owner Ampy Valero with a smile, seemed almost apologetic for the victory over Corr. “She gave me a lot of chances to win,” said Sambajon. “If she made a few more balls, it would be different. She had a good, hard break and made a ball almost every time.” For her part, Corr took the defeat in stride. “It helps to kind of dust the cobwebs off for the next tournament,” she said. Both Corr and Julie Kelly, who attended the exhibition with Corr, are headed to Las Vegas for the BCA Open next week.Visit InsidePOOL for the latest news from the sport of billiards and pool.

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